Plumb point locator



March 13, 1951 s, TUMMlNELLO 2,545,321

PLUMB POINTLOCATOR Filed Sept. 4, 1947 FIG.|.

INVEN TOR; SAM EMM/NELLO,

47' TORNE Y.

appear from the dotted lines indicating extensions of the faces I 4 and I5, that each plane includes the axis and exact center of a vertical cord channel or bore 20, which is, by preference and as shown, located in the exact center, each way, of the block.

It will now have appeared that the plane of faces or facets I 4, and that including faces I5, intersect in the exact center ofY the plumb line as denitely located thereby. By preference, although not of necessity, the two base portions,

edges and faces I3 are parallel, and to each, the.

plane I4--I4 and likewise the plane I5--I5 bear a 45'degree relation.

As a convenience and facility forintroduction of the cord of the plumb line fully into channel 20, the central Vbody portion I0 is provided' with channel 20.

a radial slot 2 I, which extends from the periphery p inwardly to and into the channel 2li, and width of slot 2| being by preference the y'same as the diameter of the channel or bore 20, were' the latter fully circular in section. As will now be observed, the slot 2| permitsv lateral application of the locator` to and over the plumb line and, otherwise stated, enables the lateral insertion of the plumb line to its seat as the locator is held statio'iary.

As making for further convenience in usage of the device, it is a preference to provide as under cut yfrom the face I6, a recess 22 extended radially lof the circular portion I0. rI'he recess 22 extends outwardly from the open end of channel 20 to the periphery or perimeter of the center part of the body. The width and depth of recess 22 is such as fully to receive the unused orinactive exrecess 22 thence downwardly and into recess 23,

the remaining end of the line being temporarily -L attached as by a clip (not shown) to that part of the active line depending from channel 23. Thus the device'will serve as a line holder or support, as well as a plumb point locator.

It will have been observed that, while it is advisable that the planes I4-`I4 and Iii-I5 intersect in and include the axis of channel 20, the relation between the planes is not critically the order of 90 degrees. It is, of course, advisable that the angle subtended be uniform on the opposite sides of the center point or axis of the device. The underlying feature of the structure is that a pair of straight edges be so located that when a line is scribed along each, there will be enabled a geometric establishment ofa point" of intersection of the line or the cord "axis withk a surface at a right angle thereto for example a ceiling.

The manner of usage of the locator is thought now to have become fully apparent, but there may be included for completeness-,va typical example of usage: Assume that it be required to erect zn interior partition. Itis of course desirable as good engineering practice, sound structure and good appearance, to be assured of its lexactly vertical characteristic. A center or -bounding line is scribed or marked on the oor. Nearone end of the proposed partition the locator, with the determined-length of plumb line depending thereiremlis .Placed aeenetthe ceiling, Withan .end

4 portion of the cord or line occupying channel 2U. The locator is then slidably moved over a portion of the ceiling in a direction transversely of the proposed partition until the bob point falls directly over the floor line. With the locator now held in position, markings are applied to the ceiling or other adjacent surface along at least a pair of the straight edges or facet portions I4 and I 5, and preferably along each of such facets. The locator is then removed and lines Ill-I4 coinpleted, then similarly the lines I 5-I5. The now continuous lines I4 and I5 will intersect in the exact center or axis of the cord or line occupying A single such determination will locate the center of a columnar support, but if a structure of some linear extent, such as a partition be contemplated, a series of such operations are conducted, and the full line when thus established, is exactly parallel to and directly vertically above the lower line.

It should be noted that the device is useful as an aid in extending a vertical line to determine plumb points in or on either a subjacent element such as a floor, or in a superjacent structure such as a ceiling, if either of such points be initially known. If, for example, the ceiling line or point is established, it will now be observed from the foregoing example that by using the locator in one or a series of positions at floor level, and by locating the bob point directly above the top opening of the channel 20, the floor points may accurately be determined. K

The foregoing examples are only a fewof the many applications of the locator, from which it will appear that the several objects above stated and implied, are fully realized. Many of the terms used herein, such as floor and ceiling are not to be understood as restrictive of elds of usage. Furthermore, although the invention has been described by particularized reference to a, single selected embodiment, the specic nature of the description should not be taken as limiting the scope of the claims hereunto appended, in view of the many possible structural variants.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a plumb point and line locating device, a body formed as a deep block and arranged to be applied against and readily shiftable along a horizontal surface such as a ceiling, the body being provided with a depthwise normally vertical channel for the reception of a plumb line, and the body being exteriorly shaped on opposite sides of said line channel, to provide a pairfof planar straight-edge portions the produced planes of which include the axis of said vertical channel, whereby the straight-edge portions are utilizable for scribing a ceiling or other surface in a manner to produce from said scribing an accurately located plumb point.

2. In aY plumb line locator, a vbody in the form of .'a block of substantial thickness, adapted to be placed against and .slidably movable over a ceiling or like surface, the body having a central, depthwise vertical channel through which a plumbv line is extended, the'body being" formed to provide at least a pair of facets formed'as outside faces of the body block along angularly related normally vertical planes intersecting the axis of the line channel.

3;'In a' device for accurately locating apoint of intersection of a plumb line with a ceiling, licor or likehorizontal surface, a body in the form of a block of substantial depth, and providing a line holder, a center channel for the plumb,line, extending depthwise andyertically through the body, and a pair of external, vertical faces adapted for use as straight-edges, said faces being in vertical planes at mutual angles of the order of 90 degrees, and each said plane intersecting the axis of the center channel.

4. In a device for accurately locating the intersection of a plumb line with a ceiling, oor or like surface, a one-'piece body of substantially even depth or thickness throughout, the body including a center portion of circular horizontal section and opposite diametral extensions therefrom, each of a frusto-triangular aspect, the sides of each extension providing Vertical facets for use as straight-edges in scribingv lines on a ceiling, floor or like surface, said facets of each extension being angularly related substantially at 90 degrees, said center portion having a depthwise side-open slot of a width at least equal to the center bore therethrough which is of vertical trend, and adapted to serve as a cord channel or recess for an end portion of a plumb line used therewith, ythe body being recessed from one side, inwardly to said center channel or passage, to enable lateral application of the device to and over the plumb line, the body being provided with opposite at planar faces adapted selectively for engagement with and slidable movement over a ceiling, oor or like surface for accurate location of the plumb line and plumb point, each of said planar faces of the body being recessed to provide a cord groove extending from one margin inwardly to the cord channel, the diagonally opposite marking facets of the respective extensions, being located in planes which when produced, extend through the axis of the said cord channel of the body, whereby upon completion of marked lines parallel to each of the marking facets, and upon removal of the device from a predetermined position, the production of said lines will result in their intersection in theplumb line axis.

y5. In a plumb point and line locator, a body block adapted to be placed against and slidably movable over a ceiling, oor or like surface, the body block having a central, depthwise, vertical channel through which a plumb line is extended, the body being externally formed to provide at least a pair of outside faces on the block, said faces lying in angularly related, normally vertical planes intersecting in the axis of the line channel, the body block being provided with a diameter of said vertical channel, the slot terminating inwardly in the said channel, and permitting the body to be applied laterally to a plumb line.

6. In a plumb point and line locator, a body block adapted to be placed against and slidably movable over a ceiling, floor or like surface, the body block having a central, depthwise, vertical channel through which a plumb line is extended, the body being externally formed to provide at least a pair of outside faces on the block, said faces lying in angularly related, normally vertical planes intersecting in, and both including the axis of the said line channel, the body block being provided with a side-open slot of a width at least equal to the diameter of said vertical channel, the slot terminating in said channel, and permitting thebody to be applied laterally of a plumb line, the body being provided with an accurately planar face constituting a surface slidably engageable with the ceiling or like surface on which the plumb point is to be located, and provided with a cord groove openingrinto said planar surface and extending from an outside margin of the body block to one end of said Vertical channel, the cord groove being of such proportions as fully to accommodate a portion of the plumb line.

Y SAM TUMMINELLO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 642,888 Van Vliet Feb. 6, k1900 773,016 Keuifel Oct. 25, 1904 839,700 Ansell Dec. 25, 1906 927,790 Hall July 13, 1909 948,523 Perkins Feb. 8, 1910 960,196 Powell May 31, 1910 1,080,448 Honey Dec. 2, 1913 1,874,057 Murphy Aug. 30, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 8,354 Great Britain of 1909 

